Geoje Island coastline — GOE Gyeongnam Office of Education
Home/GOE Hub
Exclusive PartnerGyeongnam Province

GOE — Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education

Your next adventure awaits on Korea's southern coast. Korvia is GOE's exclusive recruiting partner — direct placement, no national lottery.

₩2.1–2.8M

Monthly Salary

1 Yr

Contract

Mon–Fri

9AM–5PM

22 Hrs

Teaching / Week

18 Days

Paid Vacation

Free

Furnished Housing

GOE (Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education)places native English teachers in public elementary, middle, and high schools across Korea's scenic southern Gyeongnam province — home to 3.3 million residents and cities like Changwon, Geoje, Tongyeong, and Jinju. Korvia is GOE's exclusive recruiting partner, working directly with the provincial education office to place prepared applicants year-round — without the pressures of a national competitive lottery.

What Makes GOE Different

01

Korea's Scenic Southern Coast

Mountains, coastline, and warmer winters

Gyeongsangnam-do (GOE) stretches along Korea's south coast — from Geoje Island's shipyards and beaches to Jinju's lantern festival and the mountain towns of Hapcheon. The region averages 2–3°C warmer than Seoul year-round, with milder winters and longer springs. It's ideal for teachers who want nature, peace, and an authentic Korean community life.

Explore GOE Locations
02

New & Experienced Teachers Welcome

No teaching experience required

GOE hires and places both first-time and experienced teachers into its public school positions. A bachelor's degree plus a TEFL certificate (100+ hours) are the core requirements. GOE uses the standard EPIK Level 1+ / 1 / 2+ / 2 salary system — higher credentials and experience move you up the scale.

Check GOE Eligibility
03

One Hour from Busan

Metro access without metro costs

Most GOE cities — Changwon, Gimhae, Geoje — sit within one hour of Busan, Korea's second-largest city. Weekends at Haeundae Beach, KTX bullet trains to Seoul in under 3 hours, and direct Daegu and Ulsan links. You get authentic provincial living during the week and full metro access on weekends.

GOE Benefits
04

Korvia — GOE's Exclusive Partner

Direct placement, not a competitive lottery

Unlike the national EPIK lottery, Korvia works directly with the Gyeongnam Office of Education as its exclusive recruiting partner. We match prepared applicants with GOE positions as they open — meaning less uncertainty, faster decisions, and year-round placement options for candidates ready to go.

GOE Application Process
Location

Cities Where GOE Teachers Are Placed

Changwon

Pop. 1.0M

Gyeongnam's capital and largest city. Planned urban design, industrial base, and Cherry Blossom Festival in Jinhae.

Geoje

Pop. 250K

Korea's 2nd largest island. Major shipyards (Samsung, Daewoo), stunning beaches, and Windy Hill coastal park.

Tongyeong

Pop. 130K

"Naples of Korea" — harbor city with islands, seafood, and cable car to Mireuksan Mountain.

Jinju

Pop. 350K

Historic cultural center. Jinju Castle, the Namgang Yudeung Lantern Festival, and Gyeongsang National University.

Gimhae

Pop. 540K

Ancient Gaya kingdom capital. Gimhae International Airport hub. Direct subway to Busan (50 min).

Hapcheon

Pop. 45K

Mountain town, home to Haeinsa Temple and the Tripitaka Koreana — a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Everything You Need to Know

Contract & Salary (2026)

One-year contract starting March or September, with year-round placements available for qualified applicants. Salary ₩2.1M (Level 2) to ₩2.8M (Level 1+) based on qualifications and experience. Includes severance pay, settlement allowance, and contract completion bonus.

GOE Contract Details

Eligibility Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in an English-speaking country. TEFL/TESOL certificate (100+ hours). Clean criminal background check. Citizens of USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.

GOE Eligibility

Benefits Package

Free furnished apartment (fully equipped, no housing allowance deduction), 50% National Health Insurance, 50% National Pension Contribution, ₩300K settlement allowance, round-trip airfare reimbursement, completion bonus, and 18+ paid vacation days.

GOE Benefits

Required Documents

Apostilled bachelor's diploma, apostilled criminal background check, sealed transcripts, TEFL certificate (100+ hrs), passport photos, medical exam, and teaching sample. Korvia reviews every document before submission to GOE.

Document Downloads

GOE FAQ

Q.What's the difference between GOE and EPIK?

GOE (Gyeongnam Office of Education) runs its own recruitment directly in partnership with Korvia as its exclusive agent — unlike most provinces, which rely on the national EPIK application. That means GOE applicants can be placed year-round rather than waiting for EPIK's March/September intakes. The contract, salary scale (EPIK Level 1+/1/2+/2), and benefits follow EPIK's standard structure, but hiring and placement run through Korvia directly with GOE.

Q.Where exactly will I be placed in Gyeongnam?

GOE places teachers across the province — in the metropolitan cities of Changwon and Gimhae, the coastal island of Geoje, the harbor city of Tongyeong, the historic center of Jinju, and smaller scenic towns like Hapcheon and Namhae. Most placements are in mid-sized cities (100K–500K population). You can list preferences, but final placement depends on school openings when you're hired.

Q.What's the cost of living in Gyeongnam compared to Seoul?

Living costs in Gyeongnam are roughly 30–40% lower than Seoul. Food, transportation, and entertainment are significantly cheaper, and housing is provided free (furnished). Combined with the salary scale, most GOE teachers save a larger percentage of their pay than teachers in Seoul or Gyeonggi, even if Seoul's base salary is slightly higher.

Q.How close am I to Busan?

Most GOE cities are within one hour of Busan by car or bus. Gimhae has direct subway access (50 min to Busan Station). Changwon, Geoje, and Jinju have frequent intercity bus service. Busan's Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli, and international airport are all easy weekend trips. GOE teachers get provincial living weekdays, metro access weekends.

Q.Does GOE hire year-round?

Yes. While GOE has primary intakes aligned with Korea's spring (March) and fall (September) semesters, the program places qualified teachers year-round as positions open. This is a major advantage over EPIK, which only runs two hiring cycles per year. If you're ready to go and your documents are in order, Korvia can often match you with a GOE position within weeks.

Q.What is Korvia's role in the GOE application?

Korvia is the exclusive recruiting partner of the Gyeongnam Office of Education. We handle your GOE application end-to-end — free document review, interview preparation, school matching, visa coordination, and arrival support. There is no cost to teachers. We are compensated by GOE and the hiring schools, not by applicants.

Ready to Teach on Korea's Southern Coast?

GOE offers authentic Korean living, strong savings, and year-round placements. Apply through Korvia — GOE's exclusive recruiting partner — at no cost to you.